RRMARKS ON TE9TACELI,A SCUTDLUM. 179 



remains of those minute and interesting creatures, such as the Shape Coralline, 

 (G. officinalis;) the Branched Tubularia, {T. ramosa;) the Salicorn Cellaria, 

 (0. salicornia;) the Cypress Sertularia, (S. cupressina;) and the Scaly Corallina, 

 (O. squamata.) We also picked up several Cuttle-fish mucroes, (Sepia officinalis,) 

 in pretty good condition, and well stored with ^^pounce;" we likewise obtained 

 Purple Spatangus, (8. piirpureus,) and a few Urchins, (Echinus esculentus;) 

 also a beautiful funnel-shaped section of our own Sea-sponge attached to a 

 bivalve. 



Banf, April \Wi., 1853. 



REMARKS ON TESTACELLA SGUTULUM, OR SHELL-SLUG. 



BY J, MC' INTOSH, ESQ. 



The Testacella scutulwn is somewhat a local, interesting, and curious 

 moUusk, It is dissimilar from all others in its general nature and mode of 

 life, living, as it does, mostly under ground; and, as far as we are aware, 

 entirely upon the Common Earth-worm, (Lumhricus terrestris.) We have fre- 

 quently observed them fix themselves in the middle of the body of a large 

 Worm, so that its head appeared buried in the flesh of the Worm; in 

 which case its victim will be devoured piecemeal. But it more generally 

 seizes them at one end, and by degrees swallows them whole, which oper- 

 ation requires two or three days to complete; during which time that 

 portion of the Worm which is not devoured, appears to be quite alive and 

 strong; and if it be a large Worm, it will turn the Slug over with every 

 twist of its body. It is astonishing with what ease this animal can force its 

 way through the earth in quest of food; its texture is very firm, almost 

 cartilaginous to the feel, and the mucus of the skin is extremely tenacious. 

 They are most commonly found in dewy wet weather: the last we captured 

 was late in November, 1852, 



The stomach, when carefully examined, is very curious, and wonderfully 

 adapted to the food it receives, — Its inner surface is covered with a number 

 of small sharp spines, pointing backwards, so that when half of a Worm w 

 swallowed, it is prevented by these spines from escaping, which, without this 

 peculiar organization, would be the case. 



The colour of this moUusk is yellow, more or less deep, with a white line 

 along each side, occasionally spotted with small brownish or blackish specks, 

 measuring about two and a half to three inches in length. On the posterior 

 extremity of the back is a small but perfectly-formed shell, (as shown in 

 figure.) Auriform, ovoid, or elongated; vertex, rather large, acute; aperture. 



